Meet Aiza, the singer whose music will have you dancing on your feet. With her debut album 'Sovereignty' out now, Aiza delivers songs with addictive upbeat rhythms. Beyond the spotlight, she has participated with the Inkeraguhiga Collective working to ensure menstrual products are accessible to women in Ruyigi. Her dedication to both her musical career and humanitarian efforts serves as an inspiration, proving that artistry and activism can harmoniously coexist to create positive change in the world. Read on to learn more about Aiza.

Where are you based?
Toronto, Canada.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the music industry?
I’ve always loved to sing and entertain. Growing up, I listened to all types of music and I fell in love with the stage while performing in musicals in high school. I was obsessed with R&B divas like Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys, and after studying Professional Theatre in college, I decided to pursue a career in the arts with music and acting as my main focus.

Your music is truly one-of-a-kind. How would you characterize your musical taste?
Thank you so much :) My musical taste is definitely feel-good, upbeat and soulful. I love high-vibe music, with lyrics that make you feel like that B. I’m obsessed with bossa nova and samba, as well as afrobeats and chill soul acts like Cleo Sol.

You are described as an Afro-bop Queen. Can you describe what that means to you?
It’s a fun way to say that I deliver bops on bops for my listeners to enjoy, always with a slick touch of afro rhythms and sprinkled with pop. Dancing has always been such a source of joy for me so it’s important that my music gets people moving.

Were there any individuals who had a significant influence on your creative process when creating your music?
Definitely. My partner and main producer C The Reason is the person who helped me discover and craft my signature sound, a dope blend of afropop and R&B. It took a few years to really hit my stride and I feel like I’m finally where I’ve always wanted to be. I also released an EP called “Corona Bops” in January 2023, entirely produced by me and co-written with my sister Kamana. Working with her helped me own the more braggadocious and playful part of me so by the time I finished my album, I felt bolder and more confident than ever before.

Congratulations on the release of your debut album, Sovereignty. Could you tell us more about it?
Thank you so much! Sovereignty is a collection of 11 songs and each track on the record represents a lesson I’ve learned to become the empowered woman I am today. The album dives into my experiences dealing with heartbreak, healing my inner child, honoring my lineage and boldly owning the fact that I’m a star. I wrote most of the songs during lockdown in 2020. With everything happening in my personal life and the world, I grappled with a lot of feelings of powerlessness which pushed me to wonder what being powerful feels like to me. Sovereignty means “to have supreme authority over oneself” and that is ultimately the message of the entire project, owning who I am and the choices I make with a genuine sense of acceptance and love.

Creating an album is not an easy task. How did you overcome the challenges you encountered when creating your album?
Creating a body of work that is so personal was definitely challenging. Lots of tears were shed but there was also a ton of laughter and beautiful moments spent collaborating with other like-minded and talented individuals around the world. One of the highlights was reaching out to Divinity Roxx (Beyoncé’s former musical director and bassist) to see if she would be up to play bass on my song “Rosé”. I was nervous but I took a chance and after she heard the song, she replied with a resounding yes! It’s amazing to have such an icon featured on the project. We also held a remote session with horn players in the UK as well as with the amazing K.O.G, who you can hear on my song “Majimbo.” The entire process has taught me the importance of staying the course. I chose to bet on myself over and over again and the final result has surpassed all my expectations. I couldn’t be more proud!

Your song “Sovereignty” from your latest album is popping. What was the story behind that song?
“Sovereignty” is an ode to my mother Fides, who I lost at the tender age of 3. This song is essentially the anchor of the entire album and speaks about the importance of knowing yourself. In a world where we are constantly told that we are not enough, here I am claiming my power and saying “f*ck it I’m coming through: young, Black, gifted and beautiful!” I don’t consider myself a rapper per sé, but this song requires an in-your-face type of attitude so I had a lot of fun rap-singing and speaking my intentions in the lyrics.

We are obsessed with the music video for “Sovereignty”. It is like a beautiful color fashion shoot. What is some of the inspiration behind it and the looks?
Thank you!!! I was blessed to collaborate with our director Will Niava (Billie Eilish, H.E.R., Joey Bada$$). We were extremely lucky to have Coffee as our production designer and stylist. He is a highly respected and coveted artistic director in Ghana who styled the music video for the blockbuster hit “Essence” by Wizkid ft. Tems as well as campaigns for major brands like Disney and GQ. A special shoutout goes to Ghanaian model and dancer Iveth Stunner for choreographing the video. In the video, I wanted to represent the part of me that is Spirit and merge it with the version of me that walks the Earth. We begin in a more ancestral space, then we introduce me and my girls going about our day and once we arrive at the beach, my ancestors are waiting for me in a cypher, where they help me transform into an elevated Goddess version of myself at the end of the video. From the clothes, to the set, to the choreography, I wanted it to be bold and colourful. The creative team was out-of-this-world talented and I’m so grateful that I got to work with them.

The location for “Sovereignty” is stunning! What made you decide to shoot in Ghana and work with the local talent there? Will we be seeing more of your videos being produced out there?
After finishing the album, I knew I needed to work with someone who could understand and elevate my vision so that’s when I reached out to Will to see if he would direct a few music videos for the project. Once he heard the music, he said “I’m in but there is no way we’re shooting the visuals in Canada, the ancestors are not going to be happy!” And he was so right. Since he has a whole team of people in Accra it only made sense to go out there. We spent about two months preparing for our big trip, working on casting, scouting locations, hiring crew and main team members. Once we arrived, it was madness! I did so much running around, between coordinating fittings, production meetings, dance rehearsals and actual shoots, I barely slept. We shot three music videos in less than two weeks. It was a lot of work but it was also one of the most exciting experiences of my life.

Speaking of awesome songs and music videos shot in Ghana, Majimbo is super fun! First, what does Majimbo mean? What inspired this song?
If there’s one thing I’m going to do, it’s hype my girls up! “Majimbo” is a tribute to another East African Queen: Kenyan internet superstar Elsa Majimbo. Elsa is bold, hilarious and a fashionista who has taken the world by storm being her unapologetically confident self. With my most braggadocious lyrics to date and an upbeat track produced by C The Reason, I wrote this song to inspire my listeners to tap into their own inner Majimbo. This bop turns every sidewalk into a fashion runway and makes you feel like the main character of your life, as you should.

All of your songs feature powerful rhythms. What message do you hope to convey to your listeners?
I want you to listen to this album and be inspired to look within and stand in your truth, unapologetically. Whether it’s that little spot in you that still needs healing or the part of you that is screaming for an epic celebration.

We have learned that you work with the Inkeraguhiga Collective. Could you tell us about your work with them and why this was important to you?
Absolutely. In 2017, I went to Burundi with my father for the first time and the trip was life-changing. Although it was a beautiful experience, I was also shocked to find out just how difficult it is for people with periods to access menstrual products over there. When my cousin Moïse Mpezi reached out and told me about the Inkeraguhiga collective, I just knew I needed to get involved. The Inkeraguhiga collective is made up of 12 young Burundian women who have been handcrafting and selling reusable sanitary pads in the rural province of Ruyigi for the past three years, where menstrual hygiene is lacking and causing difficulties for students in school. It saddened me to learn that due to a lack of access and knowledge, many students in Burundi find themselves missing a week of classes every month or resort to using tree leaves and other unsanitary means to protect themselves whilst on their periods. Last year, me and my cousin decided to launch a fundraiser to provide the Inkeraguhiga collective with further training and necessary tools (sewing machines, fabrics, needles, sewing thread, storage space rental, etc.), and increase the production of their reusable pads. With the money raised, we managed to purchase new sewing materials for the collective and distribute menstrual kits (5 reusable pads + 1 organic bar of soap) to 434 students at the all-girl school for gifted children, the "Lycée d'excellence Ruyigi". A nurse also held an educational workshop on menstrual health and hygiene on the school grounds so all in all, it was a great success.

Unfortunately, many women today are unable to obtain menstrual products. What are your thoughts on how we can assist in this situation?
It is so unfortunate and frustrating. Everything begins with de-stigmatizing periods, especially in schools. We need our children and teens (boys included) to know that periods are a perfectly normal part of life and that there is no need for there to be any shame surrounding them. Beyond that, I think that providing students with menstrual kits is an amazing idea and should be enforced everywhere.

What are your hopes for the future of working with Inkeraguhiga Collective?
My hope is for this work to go beyond the region of Ruyigi and for it to reach Burundi in its entirety. There is no reason why a student should miss an entire week of class because they are on their period in 2023. My dream is that we continue to normalize and support people with periods all across the continent of Africa and around the world.

Do you have any exciting new projects you would like to share?
Aside from the fact that my very first album just dropped?! Not really haha. I’m always up to something and my next goal is to play this music live and connect with more and more fans. This year was epic and I’m very excited to see what 2024 has in store for me.

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
A lot of meditation, watching cat videos, and doing my best to stay physically active.

What is your motto in life?
“Ni d’Adam, ni d’Ève” (Nor from Adam, nor Eve) is one of the phrases I repeat to myself every day. It basically means that I don’t know most people at all and that’s okay. As someone who used to befriend a person very quickly, ignore red flags and place unrealistic expectations on people, this phrase helps me remember not to take anything personally and to never put anyone on a pedestal.

To stay connected with Aiza, please follow the links below.
Instagram: @aizabby
TikTok: @aizabby
YouTube: Aiza

Aiza - Afro Rhythm Sprinkled with Pop